HLnovel Chapter 214 Reinforcements
Chapter 214 Reinforcements
These words showed no regard for the emperor's feelings. The whole world was covered in yellow earth, yet a prince dared to openly threaten the emperor. These ministers had something to say but dared not speak it.
Now, Ren Zhong's words are like a slap in the face to the emperor.
They looked at each other, each with their own views and concerns about the situation, but none of them dared to speak up at this moment.
After all, Ren Zhong's words, though sharp, are also a reality that cannot be avoided at present.
In the midst of this silence, a slightly urgent voice suddenly broke the silence:
"Your Majesty," I said, "I believe that by returning the Princess to the King of Gao Liang now, we still have a chance to negotiate terms. If we delay and the situation deteriorates further, I'm afraid we won't be able to gain even the slightest benefit!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was a minister standing to the side.
Upon hearing the sound, Ji Bailin turned his head, took a closer look, and couldn't help but reveal a look of contempt on his face.
It turns out that this person was a Hanlin scholar personally promoted by Ren Zhong, and was widely regarded as Ren Zhong's favorite student outside the court.
The two were close and inseparable, so it was not unexpected that the Hanlin scholar would step forward to speak up for Ren Zhong.
Ji Bailin let out a cold snort, clearly showing his disdain for him.
"Your Majesty, the letter sent by the King of Gaoliang mentions two border cities, both of which are adjacent to the King of Gaoliang's fiefdom. The old king's meaning is very clear: if we hand over the eldest princess, those two cities will naturally belong to Your Majesty."
Ren Zhong spoke earnestly, his gaze seemingly lingering on the letter on the table.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Ji Bailin's face was filled with anxiety, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. He saw that the emperor's originally resolute expression had softened slightly, and his heart tightened.
It should be noted that the regent had spent countless efforts and resources to achieve the goal of trapping the eldest princess in the capital.
How can we so easily hand over the eldest princess now? There must be huge risks and hidden dangers involved.
Just then, Ren Zhong, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly turned around, his sinister and sharp eyes staring intently at Ji Bailin like those of a hawk.
Ren Zhong's face was grim, and he said in an icy tone, "Imperial Envoy Ji, you have repeatedly tried to persuade His Majesty to change his mind. Are you perhaps trying to find an excuse for the King of Gaoliang to rebel?"
Before he finished speaking, Ren Zhong exuded a powerful aura, the kind of imposing presence he had cultivated over many years of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom.
This overwhelming force surged towards Ji Bailin like Mount Tai crushing an egg, causing Ji Bailin to tremble involuntarily and almost lose his balance.
However, just when everyone thought Ji Bailin would back down out of fear of Ren Zhong, a clear voice suddenly rang out:
"Grand Tutor Ren, you are mistaken! Imperial Censor Ji is only thinking of His Majesty's best interests, and his advice stems from his concern for the country and its people. On the contrary, you keep urging His Majesty to hand over the Eldest Princess. I wonder what your true intentions are?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and discovered that the speaker was the youngest official present.
This man, named Lin Yu, was the newly appointed Minister who had just been promoted a few days ago to succeed Su Chengde.
Perhaps it was because he was new to officialdom and young and impetuous that Lin Yu showed no fear in the face of Ren Zhong, who was in a high position and was shrewd and experienced.
On the contrary, his firm gaze met Ren Zhong's without flinching, as if he were using his courage and determination to confront the other's power.
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, how could you be threatened by a mere prince? If Your Highness wishes to keep her here, then so be it!"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review spoke with certainty, each word echoing in the Imperial Study, causing everyone to pause in surprise.
Ren Zhong's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched slightly, and for a moment the scene fell into a stalemate.
Finally, the emperor standing in front suddenly sighed and waved his hand helplessly at the eunuch Gao beside him, "Draft an edict."
Outside Yanmen Pass, at Ma'anshan.
The fierce battle, which had lasted for nearly a day and a night, was drawing to a close, and the sky gradually darkened, as if shrouded in a thick black curtain.
The cold wind howled wildly like a ferocious beast, its sharp sound whistling past her ears, intertwining and mixing with the deafening roar below, rushing straight into Su Fuying's eardrums.
Standing on high ground overlooking the incredibly brutal battle scene below, even Su Fuying, a veteran of many battles, couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.
On the battlefield, smoke filled the air, shouts of battle rose and fell, and countless lives vanished in an instant.
Mutilated limbs and broken weapons were scattered all over the ground, and blood stained a large area of land, forming a shocking sea of blood.
Just then, a dull and heavy thud of hooves resounded through the sky, coming from afar and getting closer.
"Reinforcements! Reinforcements!"
Upon hearing the sound, the soldiers in the midst of the fierce battle suddenly shouted out in excitement.
As the sound of hooves grew clearer, the ground beneath our feet began to tremble slightly, as if a vast army of horses was galloping towards us.
Immediately afterwards, a dense rain of arrows, like locusts swarming across the sky, swept through the air at astonishing speed, piercing through armor and uniforms with fierce force.
In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, the bloodstains flying high into the air like blooming crimson flowers.
Many soldiers didn't even have time to react before their heads were separated from their bodies. Their heads rolled to the ground, their wide-open eyes filled with resentment and despair. The heroic souls that had not yet dissipated seemed to still let out mournful howls in this gloomy sky, sending chills down one's spine.
Accompanied by the rousing shouts of soldiers charging into battle, a dark mass of soldiers appeared outside Ma'anshan.
They surged toward the battlefield like a surging tide.